Mental Health: Concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

This course familiarizes students with the assessment process, how to interview and use assessment tools in conjunction with the DSM-5 and ICD-10 to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. It compares standard assessment techniques and process-oriented interviewing. This course provides an introduction to the principles, concepts, methods and applications of assessing human experience for counseling purposes. Topics include the history and philosophy behind measurement and assessment in clinical mental health counseling; psychometric concepts; common assessment formats for measuring constructs such as personality and behavior; clinical decision-making, diagnostic assessment, clinical interviewing and treatment planning; and holistic considerations within assessment.

This course examines the fundamentals of drug pharmacology and drug interactions. Faculty review current psychotropic medication protocols as well as herbal and nutraceutical complements to psychotherapy and therapeutic interventions. It is a primer for all mental health professionals who want to learn more about the drugs their clients are prescribed and how it may impact their quality of life and overall wellness.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of past and current psychotherapeutic approaches, with the primary focus on the cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical therapy used for treatment of borderline personality disorder as well as other mental health issues. Students gain insight into the practical application of these interventions through discourse and subsequent practice with fieldwork application. Additionally, this course addresses principles of crisis intervention for people with mental health disabilities during crises, disasters and trauma-causing events. Students learn to implement effective crisis assessment tools for clients that are in overwhelming emotional turmoil and recommend the appropriate clinical intervention(s) based upon the aforementioned tools. Students are also required to complete a minimum of 200 hours over a four-month period as an intern.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of treating traumatic stress disorders, including neurobiological impacts, etiology and conceptualization of diagnosis and treatment. Best practices and relevant evidence-based practices of assessment are examined and practiced in clinical settings. This course presents the latest research in treatment and interventions, including cultural considerations, accessing community support and self-care for clinicians who treat this population. Students develop a case formulation and treatment plan for a trauma survivor population that can serve as a practical template for subsequent use. This course is also second advanced internship. Students continue to work as a clinical rehabilitation and mental health counselor intern for an additional minimum 200 hours.